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RUSSIA&CHINA
(Continued from page 24)
superpowers, what are the pros–
pects for
reconciliation?
Can the Sirio-Soviet split be
patched up?
Twenty years of quarreling over
frontiers and other issues will not
quickly be put aside. But the Sino–
Soviet dispute is not necessarily
fixed in concrete. lndeed, both
sides are well aware of the enor–
mous advantages that could be real–
ized by reconciliation.
For both the Chinese and tbe
Soviets, détente would allow a
reduction of their crushingly bur–
densome military expenditures. It
would also greatly bolster their lev–
erage in the international political
arena.
Will it happen? And in what cir–
cumstances?
A renewal of negotiations could
yet eliminate the nettlesome
boundary issue. The ideological
issue- that of who will domínate
world communism- would prove a
thornier problem, though sorne sort
of compromise or accommodation
migbt be bammered out if suffi–
cient motivation were present on
both sides.
1
t should be remembered that
neither side has sought to sever dip–
lomatic relations during their two–
decades-long feud . Even Sino–
Soviet trade has continued, totaling
more than $1 billion last year.
No attitude of reconciliation and
understanding is apparent, howev–
er, at the moment. The rbetoric
remains hot on both sides.
Last July, China's Vice Foreign
Minister Qian Qichen- Peking's
top Kremlin specialist and chief
negotiator in talks to normalize
Sino-Soviet relations- returned
from a fruitless trip to Moscow
declaring tbat there had been no
progress in improving ties. ·
Shortly afterward, the official
Xinhua News Agency accused the
Soviet Union of increasing military
tensions along its borders and of
"distorting and attacking China's
foreign policy." The Soviet Union
was also sternly rebuked for failing
to withdraw its occupation force
from Afghanistan.•
Earlier, in May, t he Soviet
Union had abruptly postponed a
30
long-planned visit to China by First
Deputy Premier !van V. Arkhipov,
the Kremlin's top economist. He
was to bave signed a far-reaching
agreement on trade and economic
cooperation with China.
The Chinese were dumbfounded
by the last-minute postponement.
The Soviets reportedly felt that
"tbe atmosphere was not proper"
for what would have been the high–
est-ranking Soviet visitor to China
in 15 years.
In recent months, both sides
have tougbened their stance on
numerous issues, and have engaged
in furious press campaigns against
each other.
Many Kremlinologists and Chi–
na-watcher s, bowever, feel that
both sides are
privately
interested
in a cautious normalization of rela–
tions over the long term.
Euraslan Colossus?
What does Bible prophecy reveal
for the future of Asían relations?
In numerous propbecies, the
Bible points to the development of
a
giant Eurasian
world power,
linked with populous neighbors by
military andjor política! alliances.
Almost 2,000 years ago, the aged
apostle John saw in vision armies
totaling
200 million
men- armies
that will sweep across Europe and
crit ica! batt lefronts elsewhere, dev–
astating the final restoration of the
old Roman Empire that will have
emerged just befare the end of this
age (Rev. 9: 16 ). (Request
The
Book of Revelation Unveiled at
Last
for more information.)
These great armies-which could
be mustered only by combining the
forces of the Soviet Union and Asían
allies-are also alluded to by the
prophet Daniel (Dan. 11 :44). He
recorded that a sphere of power to
the east and north of Palestine
(where Soviet Russia is today)
would become involved in a struggle,
with the revived Roman Empire in
Europe, for control of the Eastern
Mediterranean. (lt is explained in
detail in our free booklet
The Mid–
dle East in Prophecy.)
The role of the Soviet Union and
potential allies is also mentioned by
the prophet Ezekiel, in chapters 38
and 39. Here is a lengtby prophecy
that will not be fulfilled until short–
ly after the returning Jesus Christ
restares the kingdom of God to this
earth, with its new world capital at
Jerusalem.
Consider, now,
how
política!
alliances in Eurasia might come
into being.
The Soviet Union has a long–
standing fear of one day being
caught up in a
two-front
war-a
simultaneous conflict with both
Europe and China. Kremlin plan–
ners will do virtually anything to
prevent that dire prospect.
Worsening relations with China
on her eastern ftank, coupled with
Eastern Europe's severe d rain on
Soviet economic and military
resources, could eventually make it
necessary for the Soviet Union to
loosen its hold
on Eastern
Europe.
The Kreml in may have to strike
a political deal that would bring
about the withdrawal of its military
forces from Eastern Europe, for
duty in Asia, and allow countries
from Eastern Europe to associate
themselves with the evolving West
European union. This would create
the circumstances necessary for the
final emergence of a United
Europe- the final restoration of
the Roman Empíre-as a major
world power.
Already, Moscow's buildup of
military forces along the Chinese
border has weakened her strategic
position in Europe and undermined
her control over Eastern Europe.
But any such Russo-European
"accommodation" would not last.
Ultimately, as the prophesied
.United Europe rises to global super–
powerdom, a fearfu l Kremlin would
be forced to settle its differences
with China-to be free to deal with
rising
European
religious, political
and military leadership.
However it happens, Russia and
Asían neighbors
will
ult imately
· find themselves in sorne degree
joining forces out of necessi ty to
confront a power they perceive as
threatening the survival of world
communism.
Future developments -in Soviet–
Chinese and Sino-lndian relations
will have profound and far-reaching
repercussions for the entire world.
Their relationships will play a large
part in molding the shape of world
events as the final years of this age
draw near.
o
The
PLAIN TRUTH